Temple Run: Oz was the second Disney spin-off of Imangi Studios’ hit runner. It came out in March 2013 alongside Disney’s film Oz the Great and Powerful. It swapped the jungle temple for the Land of Oz: you ran down the Yellow Brick Road, drifted through the sky in a hot-air balloon, and escaped flying baboons. Disney retired it from the app stores in 2017, so most people searching for it today can’t download it any more.
On this page you can play Emerald Road Dash, igame9’s free runner with an Oz-style look. It draws only on L. Frank Baum’s 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which is in the public domain: a yellow brick road, a green city on the horizon, balloons in the sky and a cyclone. It takes nothing from the Disney film. You swipe or press arrows to turn, jump and slide, collect emeralds, and keep ahead of the Twister. It runs in the browser on desktop, Chromebook and phone.
How to play Temple Run Oz
- Tap Run (or press Space). The Twister starts right behind you and then drops back, so get going.
- Use three lanes: ← →, A D or a swipe moves you one lane. Giant pumpkins block single lanes and need a lane change.
- Where the road ends in a corner, swipe or press toward the side that continues. At forks either side is fine. Miss the bend and you run off the road into the chasm.
- Jump (↑, W, Space or swipe up) over hedge rows, hay bales and broken sections of road. Slide (↓, S or swipe down) under the rose-covered trellis arches.
- Collect green emeralds and the Magnet, Shield and Double Gems power-ups. Your score is metres + 5 × gems. Gems are saved between runs and pay for longer power-ups in Upgrades.
Temple Run Oz controls
| Action | Keyboard | Mouse | Touch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start a run | Space or Enter | Click “Run” | Tap “Run” |
| Change lane | ← or → or A or D | Drag left / right | Swipe left / right |
| Turn where the road bends | ← or → or A or D | Drag toward the open side | Swipe toward the open side |
| Jump hedges and gaps | ↑ or W or Space | Drag up | Swipe up |
| Slide under trellis arches | ↓ or S | Drag down | Swipe down |
| Pause | P or Esc | Pause button | Pause button |
Temple Run Oz tips & strategy
- Hedges trip you, trellises stop you. Running into a hedge or a hay bale is a stumble. Hitting a trellis arch standing up ends the run unless a Shield is active.
- Pumpkins only block one lane each. Even a row of two always leaves a free lane, and that free lane usually has a line of emeralds in it.
- The green spires mark the bend. An emerald crystal cluster stands at the end of every stretch of road. Get your turn ready when it looms ahead.
- After a stumble, play it safe. The Twister stays close for about seven seconds. A second stumble in that time and it catches you.
- Buy Double Gems before a long run. At higher speeds you pass many more gem lines per minute, so the doubler pays off more the further you get.
What was Temple Run: Oz?
Temple Run: Oz was developed by Imangi Studios and published by Disney as a tie-in with Sam Raimi’s film Oz the Great and Powerful, which opened in US cinemas on 8 March 2013. The game reached the App Store and Google Play in the first week of March 2013 for $0.99. A Windows Phone 8 version followed that August. It played like the main series: swipe to turn at junctions, tilt to move sideways, swipe up to jump and swipe down to slide.
At launch there were two areas, Whimsie Woods and the Dark Forest. A July 2013 update added the Emerald City and more than a hundred objectives. China Girl, a character from the film, was one of the playable runners. In March 2015 the game was Apple’s Free App of the Week.
What made it different from Temple Run 2
- Balloon sections. At points the run switched to a hot-air balloon ride. You tilted the device to steer and collect coins before landing back on the road.
- Flying pursuers. Instead of demon monkeys, flying baboons chased you, and some swooped in so you had to duck.
- The Yellow Brick Road. Paths wound through Oz-themed forests and later the Emerald City instead of a jungle temple.
- Film characters. Instead of the main series’ explorers, you could run as China Girl from the film.
Why you can’t download Temple Run: Oz any more
Disney retired both of its Temple Run spin-offs, Temple Run: Brave and Temple Run: Oz, from all app stores on 31 October 2017. Disney said it wanted to focus on building new games, and that while the apps might still be playable, there were no plans for further updates. It got no updates for newer phones after that, and we know of no official web version.
So be careful with sites offering a “Temple Run Oz download” or an online version. They are not official, and old APK files from unknown sources are a security risk. The legitimate options today are the main-series games from Imangi, or a browser game in the same style like the one on this page.
Emerald Road Dash vs. Temple Run: Oz
| Temple Run: Oz (2013) | Emerald Road Dash (this page) | |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Disney’s film version of Oz | Yellow brick road, emerald spires, balloons, inspired by the 1900 book |
| Pursuer | Flying baboons | The Twister, a swirling storm |
| Collectibles | Coins | Emeralds, plus Magnet, Shield and Double Gems |
| Obstacles | Film-themed forests and city paths | Hedges, hay bales, pumpkins, trellis arches, broken road |
| Availability | Retired from stores in 2017 | Free in any browser, no download |
Both games keep the core idea that made Temple Run famous: 90-degree turns you have to time, with something always chasing you.
Temple Run Oz FAQ
Can you still play Temple Run Oz?
Not from the app stores. Disney retired Temple Run: Oz (and Temple Run: Brave) on 31 October 2017. Old installs may still open, but the game is no longer sold or updated. Emerald Road Dash on this page is a free Oz-style runner you can play instead.
Who made Temple Run Oz?
Imangi Studios developed it and Disney published it in March 2013 as a tie-in with the film Oz the Great and Powerful. igame9 is not affiliated with Imangi or Disney.
Was there a balloon in Temple Run Oz?
Yes. Hot-air balloon sections were one of its signature features: you tilted your device to steer through the air and collect coins. In Emerald Road Dash the balloons float in the sky as scenery.
Is Emerald Road Dash based on the Disney film?
No. Its look comes from L. Frank Baum’s public-domain 1900 novel: a yellow brick road, an emerald city and a cyclone. It uses no characters, art or music from the film or from Temple Run: Oz.
How do I turn in Emerald Road Dash?
Swipe, drag or press the arrow key toward the side where the road continues as you reach a bend. You can press a little early and the turn happens on the corner. At forks either side works.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. Swipes control everything, and the playfield adapts to portrait screens. Your best score, gems and upgrades are saved in the browser on that device.
Temple Run: Oz is a trademark of Imangi Studios (published by Disney). igame9 is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Imangi Studios (published by Disney). The playable game on this page, Emerald Road Dash, is an original browser game made for igame9 in a similar style; this guide describes the original for reference.
